Students gear up for ski season with gear, slope passes

By Curt McKay
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

On a climb of Stowe's Mount Mansfield in 1818, Captain Alden Partridge observed "a narrow passage through the mountain, which nature appears to have designed for a road."

Partridge's description was of a massif to the north of Mansfield, which would eventually embody Stowe's Spruce Peak and Smuggler's Notch ski area.

Partridge, the founder of Norwich University, could have hardly foreseen that the students of this university would have such available access to ski resorts. Stowe and Sugarbush resorts are about an hour's drive away.

For some students considering Norwich, the proximity of skiing or snowboarding facilities is a major factor. The short distance from school to ski areas presents a new or renewable adventure to those students.

Students who ski regularly are likely to bring equipment to school, or retrieve it during Thanksgiving or semester break. For those who have not skied in a while, or are considering picking it up, there is the object of cost to consider.

"If you haven't been on the ski scene for a while, there are some considerable costs of getting back into it," said Dustin Parker, 21, from Great Falls, Mont. of the Professional Ski Instructors of America organization. "The technology of ski equipment has really changed, and so has the price."

If possible, it is best to start skiing all over again with old equipment. However, if that option is not available, new gear will have to be attained.

Most skiers at a moderate level will need to buy a rear-entry boot. Parker said "front-entry boots are for beginners, and make it difficult do get past a certain level."

Rear-entry boots are designed of primarily one outer shell with a central piece acting as a tongue. These boots commonly have four to six buckles and features that allow for fine adjustment of fit throughout the whole boot.

Because of the complexity of rear-entry boots, they are considerably more expensive than beginner level equipment. Ski Racing mail-order catalog lists these boots in the $200 to $600 range.

"Ski manufacturers have moved to mostly shaped skis," Parker said, "They're great; they really allow for a lot of good carving and generally really help people with their turns and form."

Most ski manufacturers offer hourglass ski shapes as their main models, but a variety of styles are usually available.

Racing models are commonly categorized differently than all-mountain or skill-level models. Parker explained that those using side-cut shaped skis for the first time and those who are picking up skiing after more than a year or two should stick to the all-mountain and moderate skill-level skis.

Pairs of skis can range drastically in price.

"If you're a racer or an expert, you know what kind of ski to buy; if you don't, stick to the basics," Parker said. Entry-level skis can range from $150 to $400. All-mountain models can vary for intended skill level. These models can range from $200 to $900.

Ski packages can usually be purchased for beginners and intermediates that include skis, boots, bindings and poles. If bindings, poles and other equipment are purchased separately, they can quickly add to the already steep price of skis and boots.

"If [one is] starting all over again, it's a good idea to get into a package; you can get everything for around $400 or $500. Otherwise, you're looking at different bindings and other details forever, and it can really hit you in the pocket," Parker said.

Once the necessary equipment and clothing is purchased, students can hit the road for the resort. However, there is the added cost of tickets and passes.

Stowe ski resort offers three types of season passes.

Gold passes are unrestricted and cost an adult $1,290 for the entire season, according to www.stowe.com.

Silver passes allow skiers on the mountain every day except Dec 25, 2000-Jan 1, 2001 and Feb 17-Feb 25. Silver passes are $1,140. Bronze passes have the same dates restricted and can only be used on weekdays. Bronze passes are $750.

Those returning to the sport of skiing might hesitate at purchasing a season pass of any kind. Daily lift tickets will be around $47 a day.

Sugarbush offers a college season pass that is unrestricted for $499 this year, according to www.sugarbush.com.

Daily lift ticket prices are still to be determined.

If students are unsure of their abilities when returning to the slopes, both mountains offer group lessons for around $30. Private lessons are available at both resorts for around $70 an hour.

"If you're ever questioning anything, just check out the employees at the local shops," Parker said, "they will always tell you what's going on. They know about all the equipment, prices and quality; they know about all the surrounding areas and conditions, they know the best deals."

Norwich students have several sources available. Action Outfitters and Pinnacle Ski and Sports are both located in Stowe. The B Side and Downhill Edge are both resources in Burlington. In Barre there is Peter Glenn Barre-Montpelier.

Back to Guidon index